News

Apr 10, 2026

County issues legal threat following delayed reorganisation decision

The Leader of West Sussex County Council has said the local authority may consider launching a judicial review of the Government’s approach to local government reorganisation in Sussex, following a delay to a final decision.

Apr 10, 2026

Judicial review proceedings launched in High Court over Oxford United stadium development

A campaign group has launched judicial review proceedings in the High Court challenging a decision by Cherwell District Council to grant planning permission for Oxford United Football Club’s proposed new stadium.

Apr 10, 2026

Upper Tribunal criticises way ‘Working Document’ was presented to tribunal

The Upper Tribunal has refused permission to appeal against a decision of the First-tier Tribunal to name a particular college in Section I of a young person’s EHC Plan, but has criticised the way the working document was presented to the tribunal.

Apr 10, 2026

ICO says Met Police FOI compliance has never risen above 75%

The Information Commissioner’s Office has issued an enforcement notice against the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) after finding the force has never exceeded a 75% compliance rate in dealing with Freedom of Information requests within the statutory time limit.

Apr 10, 2026

Accountancy bodies publish new edition of International Framework: Good Governance in the Public Sector

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) have released the 2026 Edition of the International Framework: Good Governance in the Public Sector.

Apr 09, 2026

Review to assess Home Office engagement with local authorities on asylum accommodation plans

The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration has launched an inspection of the Home Office's engagement with local authorities in the planning and development of asylum accommodation.

Apr 09, 2026

Councils are “raiding” their financial reserves to fund rising costs of adult social care: King’s Fund

An increase in adult social care spending has resulted in the rise of external debt and a fall in usable reserves as councils attempt to cover increased costs whilst meeting their statutory obligations, the King’s Fund’s annual social care 360 report has warned.

Apr 09, 2026

Landlord avoids £255k Community Infrastructure Levy charge after successful appeal

A landlord has successfully appealed a £255,000 Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) issued by Westminster City Council in relation to an application to vary a planning permission.

Apr 09, 2026

Monitoring officer issues s.5A report over governance issues within major project

Ashfield District Council’s monitoring officer has issued a Section 5A report over governance and procurement issues in relation to a major industrial project.

Apr 09, 2026

Judge rejects challenge to enforcement notice appeal decision by planning inspector

The High Court has dismissed a challenge to a London Borough of Camden enforcement notice served during a dispute over whether two buildings were in residential use or had become short-term lets.

Apr 09, 2026

Failure to serve sealed claim in compliance with rules “fatal” to planning statutory review claim, judge rules

The High Court has refused leave to pursue a case where a sealed claim form was not served within the required six weeks under the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR), in a planning statutory review claim.

Apr 09, 2026

Council fined £50k after employee injured in ride-on lawnmower accident

Bassetlaw District Council has been fined £50,000 after being prosecuted by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) over an incident in which an employee was seriously injured when a ride-on lawnmower overturned.

Apr 09, 2026

Planning Court refuses permission for legal challenge over approval of roadside services expansion

An amenity group has lost on all five grounds that it submitted to the High Court in a bid to judicially review a planning decision by South Norfolk District Council.

Apr 08, 2026

Judge rules it is in “best interests” of man who was previously resident in Spain for 30 years to remain in care home in Wales

A Court of Protection judge has ruled that it is in the best interests of a Welsh man who had lived in Spain for more than 30 years to remain in Wales in a care home, where he benefits from “frequent contact” with his family.

Apr 08, 2026

Welsh additional learning needs system suffering from data gaps, watchdog says

Welsh public bodies lack a clear picture of demand, costs and outcomes relating to the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) system, making it difficult to assess whether it is delivering effectively for learners, Audit Wales has warned.

Apr 08, 2026

Rise in public law cases is “no justification” for councils to step back from applying pre-application strictures: Family President

The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has observed progress “in the right direction” with respect to the four national Family Justice Board goals for public and private law children cases.

Apr 08, 2026

SCAPE to procure corporate services framework including £360m legal services lot

Public sector framework provider SCAPE is to procure a corporate services framework for England, Wales and Northern Ireland that includes a lot for legal services worth an estimated £360m over five years.

Apr 08, 2026

Devonshires names four partners in 2026 promotions round

Devonshires has appointed four Senior Associates to Partner in its 2026 round of promotions, taking the number of partners at the law firm to 68.

Apr 08, 2026

City council leaders call on Government to accelerate local government reorganisation

The leaders of seven city councils have called on the Government to accelerate its remaining decisions on local government reorganisation.

Apr 08, 2026

Audit Wales to prioritise work on rebuilding local government accounts process

Audit Wales has said working closely with the local government sector “to share good practice and help rebuild a sustainable and timely accounts process” remains one of its paramount priorities, as it publishes its Annual Plan for 2026-27.

Apr 08, 2026

New NHS Wales complaints system comes into force

The Welsh Government has hailed “the biggest reforms of how NHS complaints are handled in almost 15 years” as a new two-stage system for raising concerns came into force this month.

Apr 07, 2026

Councils in Wales face risk of “service collapse” without reform, thinktank says

A public policy research organisation has urged the Welsh Government and the local government sector to create a new operating model for councils in Wales, warning that the current model of local government is "no longer sustainable".

Apr 07, 2026

Ombudsman issues rare second report amid claims council used wrong test in homelessness case

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) has issued a further report against South Kesteven District Council over its refusal to pay a recommended remedy to a man who asked for homelessness support.

Apr 07, 2026

“Persistent delays” in allocating and authorising DoLS applications continue to leave many individuals in Wales unlawfully deprived of their liberty, report finds

More Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) applications are being submitted across Wales, with a 10% increase in applications to local authorities and a 23% increase in applications to health boards in 2024-2025, a report from watchdogs has found.

Apr 07, 2026

Judge rejects application by father for injunction over plan of foster carers to move and send daughter to new school

A High Court judge has rejected a father’s application for an order preventing the local authority from moving his daughter from her current secondary school, as part of a move with her current foster carers to another property outside the area.

Apr 07, 2026

High Court rejects legal challenge to DfE refusal to extend free school meals to Charedi private school pupils

The High Court has rejected a legal challenge against the Department for Education’s refusal to extend its Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) policy to include Charedi private school pupils.

Apr 07, 2026

Aardvark Planning Law joins HCR Law

Specialist planning and environmental law firm, Aardvark Planning Law, has joined HCR Law’s national Planning, Highways and Environment team.

Apr 07, 2026

Blake Morgan advises Welsh Government on handback of first PFI project in Wales

Blake Morgan has advised the Welsh Government on handback of the Bute Avenue PFI project, which was Wales’ first PFI project on formation in 1997.

Apr 07, 2026

TLT bolsters public sector practice with partner hire in Birmingham

Law firm TLT has strengthened its public sector team with the hire of commercial contracts and procurement specialist Alison Richards as a partner in its Birmingham office.

Apr 07, 2026

New guidance launched to assist councillors on effective decision making

The Local Government Association has published new good practice guidance on the principles of effective decision-making for councillors.

Apr 02, 2026

Law Commission launches three-year review of current legislation on transport accessibility

The Law Commission has been asked to undertake a review of the legislation on transport accessibility.

Apr 02, 2026

Law Commission launches three-year review of current legislation on transport accessibility

The Law Commission has been asked to undertake a review of the legislation on transport accessibility.

Apr 02, 2026

Government launches new hiring round for Best Value inspectors

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a fresh recruitment round for Best Value inspectors, as it continues to oversee multiple council interventions.

Apr 01, 2026

Council and ICB failed to manage funding dispute adequately, causing “avoidable delay” in hospital discharge: Ombudsman

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has criticised Hampshire County Council and NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board for failing to manage a funding dispute adequately, causing an “avoidable delay” in a disabled woman’s discharge from hospital.

Apr 01, 2026

County council issues legal notice over unauthorised flag campaign

Oxfordshire County Council has issued a formal legal notice to a group responsible for the continued placing of flags across the county, warning that it “won’t hesitate to take further legal steps where necessary”.

Apr 01, 2026

Ministers vow to “rip up consultation culture”

Ministers have said they want to end what they called Whitehall’s “consultation culture” and speed up decision making by scrapping a range of requirements.

Apr 01, 2026

Government appoints council legal director to Bedford intervention team

The Government has appointed Tasnim Shawkat, who is currently Director of Legal at Bromley Council, to Bedford Borough Council's best value inspection team as an Assistant Inspector.

Apr 01, 2026

Selection commission launched to find next President of UK Supreme Court

A selection commission has been launched to choose a successor to Lord Reed as President of the Supreme Court.

Apr 01, 2026

No evidence of ‘family voting’ at Gorton and Denton by-election, says Greater Manchester Police

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has said an investigation into alleged ‘family voting’ at the Gorton and Denton by-election in February found “no evidence of any intent to influence or refrain any person from voting”.

Apr 01, 2026

Claimant cites will from 1642 in challenge to grant of planning permission for 1,600-homes development

A Thanet resident believes he has found a 384-year-old will whose terms would put in question a 1,600-homes development at Birchington that has outline planning consent.

Apr 01, 2026

Council told to pay £9k after failing to ensure child received all provision set out in EHCP for almost three years

The Royal Borough of Greenwich has been recommended to pay £9,000 to recognise the impact of the loss of Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy provision for a pupil between September 2022 and July 2025, following an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

Mar 31, 2026

Home Secretary accepts recommended changes from chair of Grooming Gangs Inquiry and publishes final terms of reference

The Home Secretary has “accepted in full” Baroness Longfield’s recommended changes to the terms of reference for the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, and has published the final terms of reference.

Mar 31, 2026

National Housing Bank launches in bid to accelerate delivery of new homes and mixed-use schemes

The National Housing Bank will be launched this week (1 April), supported by Homes England’s new ‘Investment Prospectus’.

Mar 31, 2026

LGA urges “meaningful voice” for councils in spatial development strategies

The Local Government Association (LGA) has said it is key that in the drive to achieve universal coverage of Spatial Development Strategies (SDS) across England, local authorities and communities have "a meaningful voice and role" within regional approaches.

Mar 31, 2026

Judges dismiss appeal by council over making of section 26 order

The Court of Appeal has dismissed a council’s appeal against the making of an order under section 26 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002, providing for limited face-to-face parental contact after placement for adoption.

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